Flotation oil



Patented July 30,1929.

STATES ROYER LUCKENBACH, F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

FLOTATION OIL.

He Drawing.

This invention relates to the concentration of ores by froth flotation and more particularly relates to a compounded flotation oil for carrying out this process. In such a process the pulverized ore is ordinarily mixed with a considerable quantity of Water and while this mixture is being agitated and subjected to aeration, a frothing agent consistmg of any suitable flotation oil is added.

'10 As aresult of this aeratian and agitation in the presence of the flotation oil a voluminous froth is formed upon the surface of the ore mixture which froth carriesthe main part of the metal containing mineral and leaves 1 behind the main portion of the gangue.

I have discovered that a heavy petroleum residuum has exceptional selecting properties in a flotation oil when properly diluted or thinned and combined with a strong frothing agent. It is particularly necessary to select a proper frothing agent for use in connection with a heavy residuum and for this purpose I have found that pine pitch diluted in a suitable solvent is very effective.

fer to employ as a solvent for pine pitch ordinary kerosene, although other light petroleum products are equally effective. A partially chlorinated kerosene may also be employed as the solvent for it is particularly beneficial in treatment of highly basic ores owing to its elimination of iron from the concentrates. Chlorin may be added to kerosene to the extent of about 5% by weight in order to give a suitable chlorin content to the bydrocarbon. The solution of pine pitch in kerosene or chlorinated kerosene may be mixed directly with the heavy residuum, the pine pitch solution acting at the same time as a diluent or thinner for the residuum. Although the pine pitch-residuum-kerosene mixture may be used very effectively as a flotation oil, I prefer to incorporate small amounts of additional frothing agents, such as cotton seed foots, turkey red oil, pine creol5 sote. pine tar and rosin. I

e proportions of the above constituents I pre- Application fllerl March 28, 1925. Serial No. 17,836.

may be varied over a considerable range as indicated in the following formula As a specific formula representing the best proportions of the above substances, the following has been found to give excellent results:

Petroleum residuum F rother (and diluent) 40% The frother may consist of:

Kerosene 35% Pine pitch 30% Cottonseed foots 10% Turkey red oil 10% Pine creosote 15% A flotation oil made in accordance with my invention is capable of being stored for an indefinite period after it has been compounded without separation of the mixture into its constituents.

Pine pitch is understood to be a residuum remaining from the distillation of naval stores materials such as rosin, pine tar etc. and it is in this sense that the term is herein employed both in the specification and in the appended claims.

While I have thus described and specifically illustrated my invention, I desire to be limited only as indicated in the accompanying claims.

What I claim is:

1. An oil for the flotation of minerals which comprises, a heavy petroleum residuum and a diluent therefor consisting of a frother containing between 30 and 50% of pine pitch which comprises, 50 to 70% of a heavy petroand a light petroleum oil. leum residuum and 30 to 50% of a diluent 10 2. An oil for the flotation of minerals consisting of a, frother containing between 30 which comprises aheavy petroleum residuum and 50% of pine pitch and kerosene. 5 and a diluent therefor consisting of a frother In witness whereof I have hereunto set my coratakining between 30 and 50% of pine pitch hand and seal this 17th day of March, 1925. an erosene.

3. An oil for the flotation of minerals RdYER LUCKENBACH. 

